The Sun. — London, England, 1818-09-19 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEW. ORIGIN Of the PINDARIES ; preceded by Historical Notes on the Rise of the diff , rent Mahratta States.—By au OF FICER in the Service of the Honourable EAST INDIA COMPANY. The People whose predatory warfare has occa sloned so much disturbance in the East, and who, of course, have excited much turiosity through out Europe, are of so extraordinary a desct that we bad resolved to take particular notice of the Work helot e us in this department of our JOurnal„ but as the last Number of The Quarterly Review has been able, from its own resouices, which we have reason to believe are in every re- bpvct authentic, to add much to the knowledge which the IVork imparts, we shall avail ourselves of the arl:cle on the subject which that valuable treasury of criticism contains, persuaded that we could offer nothing equally entitled to the atten tion of our Readers " The rise and progress of the Mahratta States have been fully detailed by us, in the coarse of our critical labour, from more elaborate works than the little voiume before us, which, though com piled with praiseworthy diligence and accuracy, possesses not sufficient novelty of research to in duce us to resume their history. We pass, thet e fore, to a topic of nearly equal importance, of much greater originality, and, perhaps, under ex isting circumstances, of no secondary consequence either in the struggle afoot or in the future fate ut Hindostan. " The Pindaries, or rather Pindarries, arc a singular race ; singular in their formation, in their habits, in their physical qualities, in their moral attributes, and in their social system. Chance made them a people ; plunder and robbery consti tute the bands of their union ; cunning awl cou rage arc their patents of nobility, and superior ta lent for intrigue and military skill the sole title to command. " The name of Pindarrie occurs as early as the beginniog of the last century in the Indian annals ; several bands of these freebooters are mentioned by Ferishta as having Followed the Mahrattas in their early wars in Hindostan, and fought against Zoolfeccer Khan, and the other Generals of Au rengzvbe. One of their Chiefs, Flout Sewar, commanded 15,000 horse in the battle of Paniput, and under him they assumed a more regular or ganization. They were divided into dhurrahs, (n tribes, commanded by Sirdars ; natives of every country were promiscuously enrolled in their community, and he was welcomed as a worthy ci tizen who to a stout heart added a horse to carry him on his foray, and a sword to levy contribu tions. They are, however, all of the Moslem per suasion, and the other castes whom they admit to astir association are distinguished by the name of Ogirra, or strangers, while they address each other by the appellation of Sara cy,' (brother). Ar first, probably, they were less national ; but as they acTiired wealth and renown in the Mahratta contvsts, the vanity, natural to man, induced ever' these banditti to pride themselves on being what they were, and therefore to draw a line be tween themselves, plunderers by descent through several geoerations, and their accessaries, who could only boast of circumstance, and not of li ticage, to entitle them to the latrociaiary honour. in their history we find the names of Heeroo and Barran mentioned as leaders of considerable note, and also Dost Mahummud and Ryan Khan, the sons of the former. Their dignities are generally ephemeral, and genius and enterptiZe often, in a very f ew years, raise a person from obscurity to the highest consideration. In the rapidity of their movements, their en durance of fatigue, their attachment to their horses, their want of discipline, and their pre datory mode of warfare, the Piudarries strikingly resemble the least civilized of the Cossacks. Their number is stated to amount to between thirty and forty thousand ; but in a community liable to such fluctuations it is not easy to form any very accurate idea of their real strength. A year of plenty reconciles many to peaceful habits, and a season of scarcity multiplies the horde of free booters beyond the powers of common calcula tion. But whatever may be their force they chiefly inhabit the country north of the Nerbud dah, round Nimba war, Kantapore, Goonass, Bere sha, and part of the Bilsa and Bopaul territory. Unless when united on incursion, they live toge ther in societies of one or two hundred, which, as is the case in most irregular combinations, are go vereed by him who possesses the greatest personal influence. These Chiefs are called ' horladar ' or Thokdar front mhorla ' or thok,' the name of the party, and when several of these are united the aggregate body is called toll ; all de tached parties are called buzzacks ;' the main body lubbur ,' and the leader or principal commander, ' lubbreea _ _ ' The lubbreea has no hereditary claim to pre eminence, hut owes his power entirely to popular opinion ; Military talent is the only passport to stftion. Thus raised, the obedience of the 11 , .•ct is not much to be relied upon. Men wild ,!1(1 independent are not to be restrained within ',rounds by voluntary submission ; and as the Chief can neither punish disobedience, nor compel a due regard to his authority, it is frequently set at nought, .and is, indeed, rarely more than nomi nal, except in the hour at peril in the field.— Policy and address are therefore required to go vern' the lawless and licentious multitude, and coHliation, as well as artifice, are indispensable rp6llifications in a lubbreea. The hope of plan, oeris the only inducement to follow him, and so lobg as lie can lead the way at booty his instructions are willinrly listened to, and his orders punctually obeyed. The farther he advances into an enemy's country, the more firmly consolidated does his sway become. Ms followers feel their depend ence upon him for immediate safety, and, per haps, for their eventual return to their own coun tr. Should the danger increase;the Lubbreca is clot h e d w i t h dictatorial power, and the most blind Subjection takes place of merely nominal subor di:„tt but, the trial over, the Pindarry speedily relaxes into individual responsibility, and almost ceases to be a member of the community. " The tract of country to which the l'indarries are principally confined of a wild anti barren de scription; and it will readily be conceived that such a people, recruited as they are by fugitives, vagabonds, and outlaws from other parts, are not likely to imprbve it much by cultivation. Want is the natural consequence of this state of things, and in addition to their long-established propen sities, necessity often compels them to issue forth in desperate hands, in search of the means of sub sistence. When art enterpriziag leader has deter mined on a plundering expedition, he sends VA.. keels to the neighbouring Thokdars, to engage them in his interest, awl to reconcile, for the moment, any private animosities which may exist among them. I-Javing formed hi,s league, he ap points a time and place of meeting. He then de velopes his ultimate designs, and points out the districts nhiCh be Inca ils to invade. Those who approve of the plan join the confederacy, while those who do not acquiesce in its expediency, or doubt its success, at e . 'at liberty to withdraw and consult their own inclinations, either by remain ing at rest, or by seizing another opportunity to carry on their favourite vocation. " The. mode of conduct bug their marches is in general as follows :—When the Lnhbreca is ready to move, he mounts ii is horse, without Making any one acquainted with his intention, and, pro ceediug to some distance, he causes his trumpet to be sounded. On the instant every man quits his employment, whatever it may be, and prepares to follow with the utmost speed. The Lulthreea moves in front, accompanied by his standard and trumpets. 1-le waits for nobody, but allows them to join him as well as they can, and by this me thod he keeps his troop in a constant stare of readiness. This they are the better enalded to be, as the climate and their hardy habits reinter tents or baggage an unnecessary incumbrance. Each person carries merely a few days' provision for himself, and provender for his horse, and thus they travel for weeks together, at the rate of 30 or 40 miles a-day, over roads and countries im passable for a regular force. They usually march about half an hour after clay-break, anti continue in motion till near noon, when they halt for two or three hours; they again move forward, stop ping to refresh at sunset ; at nine at night they change their ground, and again at twelve, remov ing about two or three coss each time : each of these halts is denominated a " tun," and when they think much precaution necessary, they some times make even a third change of position during the night. " This perpetual change of position confuses their pursuers.; and the suddenness with which they appear in a place diametrically opposite to that in which they were last seen, and in a contrary direction to their apparent line of march, gives an air of magic to their motions, or inspires a belier that they al'e more numerous anti in separate bodies, when in tr u th they form but one " toll ;" yet their Common. m arches are only about five or six cuss a-ttay, and their longest sel dom exceed fifteen or sixteen. From the extended manner in which these expeditions are performed, they cover an inimeuse space of ground ; their line is frequently more than a cuss iu breadth, and nearly as much in depth, so that their multitude appears incalculable, and always accumulating, as they carry off young lads from the villages in their route, whom they compel to assist in the care of their cattle. In this way they collect a vast quantity of spoil of every kind, though the objects ofiheir greatest cupidity are horses; these they seize wherever they meet them, and not only mount their followers and load their booty, but have sometimes two or three led for each indivi (oal in the camp. Marty stories are current in India of their adroitness in stealing these animals; and it has happened that the best guarded picquets of the cavalry, in pursuit of them, have in the morning missed several horses, which the Pindar ries had found means to purloin from their stakes, within a few yards of the sentinels, daring the night. To accomplish this exploit, which ob tains great eclat among their companions, the robbers crawl upon their bellies like serpents, stopping whenever the face of the sentinel is towards them, and pushing on when his back is turned ; baring reached the horse, they cut the cords by which he is confined,. and placing their own black limbs in such a position as not to be distinguishable from his, they back him out as near the piCtitletS as possible without discovery, watch their opportunity to atomic, anti suddenly gallop oil among the bushes, through paths with which they, are acquainted, taking the chance of the random shot which the startled soldier dis charges after them. " Their hivotiack at night offers a singular con trast to the stillness of a disciplined army, with its brief, solemn, and iegalar interruptions. When it is difficult to keep together on account of the darkness, they are continually calling to each other by name, and, from the noise occasioned by their clamour, the general direction of the march is easily kept. 11 the Lubbreea changes his course be sounds his tramper, and the word is also passed from one to another ; so that although much confusion ensues, they never so completely disperse but that they can again unite in a short time. Should they be attacked at such a moment, it is sauce qui peui ; they fly at full speed towards every point of the compass, and trust to chance to bring them together again ; yet, with great apparent disorder, there is still some degree of regularity among them, and sonic general princi ples by which they shape their conduct. Each " think " has its distinguishing " Inggee" or standard, and proceeds in as organized a state as circumstances admit ; and though a thok some times sep - arates from a lubbur, individuals seldom abandon their thok. The buzzacks, or divisions, headed by some resolute and aspiring matt, detach themselves in bodies of ten and twenty, and sour the country to the extent of six or seven cuss, either in advance or on the flanks of the lubbur. When attacked, they invariably endea vour to lead their adversaries into au ambush, or draw them, inadvertently, upon the main body ; their practice beilg never to fight unless under great advantage.—Flight is accounted no disgrace with them ; but when the rear is hard pressed, the most courageous and best mounted volunteer to defend it. Should the toll,. h o wever, l c dis persed, by defeat or otherwise, the lubbreea's trumpet is sounded to keep the fugitives toge ther ; and, as this signal may not reach the ears of the more distant parties, be sets fire to some stock of straw or stubble, as an indication of the spot where he is posted, and a rallying summons to his men. It sometimes happens that indivi duals lose the toll for several days ; but, such is their acuteness, from long custom, that they will readily, discover the track of their party, when those unaeplainted with their habits would be utterly at a loss." [To be continued.] VACCINATION. The Board of the National Vaccine Establish ment, we understand, have lately received from Seringapatam a curious and important Memoir on Vaccination in that part of India, by the Rev. S. A. Dußois, Missionary in the Mysore; Author of a Description of the Character, &c. of the Peo ple of India, and long a most ardent and zealous promoter of the Vaccine. '['be following Ab stract of this communication cannot but be inte resting to our Readers. M. Dußois states, that Vaccination was intro duced into Indostan in the year 1802, and was warmly encouraged by the British Government. 'I he Natives, however, displayed a violent aversion to it from 'everal causes. The Ist proceeded from a hatred to all mono vatibus. 2dly. A rnmonr arose that this was a design of the English to affix an indelible mark on certain persons : and that all Males so impressed were, when they grew up, to he forced into the mi litary service ; and the Females to be Concu bines. 3dly. The Hindoos bad always considered the Small-pox as a dispensation from a Goddess named Mabry Umma ; or rather that the disease was an incarnation of this Deity into the person infected. They endeavoured to propitiate this Goddess with offerings and sacrifices ; but should the patient die, the relatives dared not weep, lest the Goddess should overwhelm them with greater calamities. From these causes,Vaccination was at first only submitted to by Christians. Dr. ALEXANDER ANDERSON, Superintendant Surgeon of the Mysore Country, thought proper, with the approbation of the Supreme Council at Madras, to engage the Rev. M. DUBOIS to exert his influence to overcome the prejudices of the Natives. He accordingly drew up several tracts in the Indian languages, and he set out upon a tour to disseminate the Vaccine : several Indian Christians were selected and instructed to aid him in his labours. At first much confusion arose, and some failures occurred by other PraCtitioners, who had mis taken a_spurions disease for the true Vaccine.— But this opposition gradually declined, in conse quence of the complete success which attended the regular Vaccine ; and the Natives became persuaded that the Goddess' Mabry had chosen this mild mode of manifesting herself to her vo taries, and might be meritoriously worshipped under this new shape. M. Dußois solemnly declares, that be and his assistants have vaccinated nearly (a lac or) ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND persons : and that be has not heard of one case proving fatal, nor a single well-authenticated instance among this large number of the Small-pox occurring offer the regular Vaccine. He mentions, \ that the vesicles arc apt to he broken by the coarse blanket-dress, which is fre quently worn ; and the friction often produces an ulcer. These cases were re-vaccinated ; hut he observes a singularity, that this second operation rarely takes effect it perforated sooner than two Or three months after the first. A circumstance of a very agreeable nature is also noticed, that the Vaccine frequently puts a stop to the intermittent fever, which is prevalent in that country. M. Dußois asserts, that he knew in stances of its curing Quartan fevers which had continued tour or five years. He compliments highly the Government in India for the measures adopted to extend Vac cination : lie mentions that Native Vaccinators are appointed in every district, under the super intendance of English Medal Gentlemen, with liberal salaried : from which he indulges the Tea sortable expectation, that at no remote period the Small-pox shall be entirely exterminated in that country, where, in former times, before the in troduction of this wonderful preservative, whole districts have been occasionally almost depopu lated by the ravages of the Stuall-pox. This communication of'M. Dubois is accom panied by accurate tables, setting forth the several casts and numbers in each province who have un dergone Vaccination at his hands, making an ag gregate of 98,734 persons. SUDDEN DEATH.-Yesterday morning, between the hours of eleven nod twelve, one of the Compositors, in the employ of Mr. HANSARD, Printer to the House of Commons, in Parker's street, Drury-lane, on leaving his frame to wash his hands, had scarcely, reached the sink, when he fell down to all appearance in a fit ; but upon the arrival of two medical men, it was ascertained that he had burst a blood-vessel, and the attempts to recover him proved unavailing. His name was Jon r; so N. On Monday Peter, alias Patrick Mord, na tive of Ireland, was t aken into custody by Ethnond, Crawford, and Legat, town officers, with a large hook in his possession, which, on inspection, was found to contain near seven stones weight of base money in imitation of half-crowns, shillings, and sixpences, carefully folded up in rows, and ready for issuing. Ward is recognized as an old offen der in this infamous traffic, hating in the year /Sl2 been sentenced to banishment from this city for vending base money. A precognition is now going on before the Magistrates.—(Glasgow Chronicle.) The stables of Mr. BANTON!, of Bermondsey, were broke open by two men yesterday morning about five o'clock ; they were decamping with a horse,' when a milkman, who supplies Mr. B.'s family, happened to pass by the premises, and made an alarM. They made a good retreat i but left the horse behind thew. CONDUCT OF CORONERS. ADJOURNED INQUSST, te -19 A Jury was summoned on Tuesday fit hold an inquisition on the body of Mr , j osp- Crane, painter and glazier, of New &Oat< Tares/ the Strand, at the Thatched House TO/ " the said Court. A person presented himself as Coroner, efl having administered the usual oath to the alg i d t! he accompanied them to take a view of the v b° i , e l : After they returned to the Jury-room, the o ' o man remarked, that the person who presided W.- SO much intoxicated, as to be incapableof ta ri t iti be the evidence, and he suspected that he was not Coroner ; and if be was the Coroner, he thong that be ought not to have come to take an id , fines Thent i such a ituation. assumed s Coroner, who said that his 0 111116 was Eustace, replied, in a manner almos t h ti o n ci intelligible from the effect of the liquor Z fr , drank, that " he came for his Governor , Stirling."d The constable (Nettleton) said, that he hoped the Jury would not suffer the person to Pl ce i t , with the inquest, or he might be censured O r o , The Jury unanimously declared, that t he ! o0 quiry should not proceed, as they were of oP io . l s i. that they were not competent to hold an ingtl.lo, lion, not having been " sworn ant': pannelled by one of 11;s Majtsfy's Coroners: r i A long discussion took pldce, in which th e i l d 6 i ' animadverted upon the conduct of Mr. S ti r 11 in sending such a person to hold an inquisit i°P. pd On Thursday night the Jury re-assembled, Ili, Mr. Stirling attended, and having sworn the they reviewed the body of the deceased, and d ticed some cuts about the forehead and fac e, " marks on the back of the head. the ir The witnesses were again sworn, and from lot lot evidence it appeared, that on Saturday nig"` D i e bt ,elve r o'clock, deceased left home about half past `'i o 4l o'clock, in perfect health, and about nine oro, he was seen at the corner of Turnstile, o° ! b i e wa in a convulsive fit ; it took six men to bol a bb - e ir hii convulsions were so strong, and he tore `OO clothes. After he had reeori-red a little, he vi o taken to g watch-house on Se frl'n 10, a nd Of put in the usual place of security. On his o st there, he fell several times backwards, and il e. supposed that a vessel in the head Was rap to r - pto Ihe deceased's wife hearing of his confine Toot went to the watch-house, and was in formed e el he was intoxicated. She told them that be n og' took liquor to an excess, and that he most be o ght well. After some time the deceased was br'nbiel out of the dark-room ; he was quite inse ns 's his wife procured a coach at five o'clock an s ite day morning, being unable to get one befo re : o o o the deceased was conveyed home. A "r ate accompanied him. Mrs.-Crane informed the Jury, that the s ue ceased's clothes were wet through w het : found him in the dark-roorn, and she " 1 0 - 0 0 formed that he was thought to be an irliP; to f 0 and a bucket of water was thrown upon D L i t it bring him to his senses. When he 00/%10 home, she sent for a surgeon, who said 0 :0' was dying, and he could not render him 07 sistance. Mr. J. H. Roy, surgeon, deposed, that 116 0 of examined the body of the deceased, and ' t l e , opinion, that the external violence was su to cause his death. His frequently falling o "thi cP manner described by the witnesses woul d F r all the external appearances. 0A I V 0 Thb Foreman of the Jury then achW s ' 0 al s Coroner upon the impropriety of a ttra;,ksticti. being sent to take an inquest ; he hoped recurrence would never take place again. The Coroner made no reply. • pied The Jury returned a vet diet of " D ie Visitation Of God."—(British Press ) ...—.........—..,.. ............- 1 8 ' 4 li fi COUILSEOF EXCHANUE, Famty, Sk ;.'- ,: 0. - Amsterdam Ditto, at Sight 3l C.' it 10 Amsterdam Ditto, at Sight 1 i 1 q 0:4 11 II O g' RII otterdam Antwerp l- 34 10 ID P e ilantb nigh t Altona o • 0 0000000 Qt , 24 70 ie„ Paris, 3 Day's sight 24 9 ,.. ! 0 4 , 4, - i Ditto Bottrdeanx, ditto Frank fort on the Main 3' . '"''' ..... .... 14. ~ NI ad.rid ............ 3- 0 0 0 0 Cadiz Rana 39 ........ 3711 Serillu 34 Giltraltar Barcelona Leghorn • Genoa... Malta. Palermo . ' sl tui4---1.Ni.eariti11eee....1.ta......1.1.1.1j.. ....... 145e: 5 i 0 -,4l l l6.°Ver°P R (Ili i i : '1 i 'l : : :1 ci ro ... **************************************** 5;1.1 Dublin.... .....8i..... c or k ** ********* pe r Cent. • Agin of the Bank ion Hoiland.... 2 per Cent. 0° BULLION . . 0 P er Portugal Gold, in Coin .................. L 0 0 0 • Foreign Gold, in Bars ........ 04 0 3* New Dollars Silver, in , 8ar5. ......... ' S. _Ape COAL MARKET,' SeeTEM t ogs -•I' - % •••1 465 Ships at Market. Ships sold • J. t ° P s „A. 18.... . . 18 Newcastle 88s• t o ... 6d. ~,..S. Ad. 3 Sunderland ... ..... ,Vis• ,• w ~ I Stone Coal i Welsh Coal • • I ........ "s. pd, t° 3 Color ... ............ 3 1 .. •.•.•....35: °°°d: t° ...4.-....4.'-'ll4 . :—..-:-.-----"" biro On the 14th inst. at KonceisaallrllS; House, o fCa o.l° Lady Jane Pym, of a son. e 1 ...6 4 At Calcuta, on the 24t11 of April la st ' th . sq. of the Civil Service, Siddons F o f 9 1 Ol e MARRIED. • 1 .. 5 4' i,tcr ° o f a soil. .. is er On the 14th inst. at Ringmer, John %ea ; d a og" ( JO Cottage, Ringwood, Hants, to Frances, o °,', / ; f f ~,iv, •'„ i ' i ti , Rev.. J• Lupton, Rector of St. Thomas's, '" o i e c . cato"'W v On Thursday last, at St. James's Cbrch , J', y o rk, Shilleto, Esq. of Ulleskelf, in the comity u` rB aithwaite. I --- of Pill' _ daug hter 1 141 1: On the 16th inst. Miss RpcdlEit,l).the only fP . , Redit, Esq. of King's-road, Beillord - rn' tic - isla nd °,1., elde r On Sunday last, at St. Hilliers, in 0010 4 $l O Captain Prior, R.N. 'A r On Wednesday last, at Chawton, 010151,150,400,.10,11€ son of Mr. Richard Lee, of Cheyne-wa.ilic'eton-e'col4,rjr On the 14th inst. at his house in 4 - A : 3 ' 0 001.011 - 1 . - 81st year of his age, Joseph Smith, F. 5,1• fo rty /1 01 ' of the Hon. East India Corripany's sl' i P . , 4' o ar • ward Hughes. ~/•••:,: 6, 0 , ff . ,' i ', l # - , S ° I. 'CI . /4 1; 7 i 151 LO S N 0 1: 1 0: s : , P , r ,f int N ed o. b 7 y:. B. CARSTAII' iliii sbf t Pl e ic Ormond-street, Queen-square; ands L re et, °dice, No. 112, Strand B7 South li ei‘rie°lAtl;c:::csee•nje , !Alto's, fit.. (1 , 9 t-paid) must 1)0 3dar . f Jes f 0: 211 i, re, l We e 'ette„ etel ii 444 Ma! , 'li e tit/ fo r. 414 4r. Pri e , P t , g 1 .~~ T, j j . ~~,N „ A r , 'lied ,